Experience
May 2010 -Jul 2010 RM Education Plc: Solution Architect
This role involved designing the ICT solution for new and refurbished schools based around a cost model that is funded by the Governments Building School for Futures scheme. I worked on Second Phase for Essex, Hackney , Islington and Camden schools each worth over a million pounds in revenue to RM. My responsibilities are to:
Agree the network solution design for the school and steer the project from an ICT perspective.
Agree the ICT vision and the strategy for the future with the Local Authority.
Work with buildings architects and use Autocad to agree spaces for ICT equipment and staff.
Organise work for the Solutions Architect Support Staff to make sure ICT spaces are agreed and documented.
Deliver contract proposals and other legal documents in line with project plans.
Meet with Local Authorities and Building contractors to make sure project plans and cost models are achievable and affordable.
This contact was terminated by RM as the Government ceased funding for all new BSF Projects on the 5th July 2010. No bad feeling is held between myself and RM.

Jun 2009 - May 2010 Financial Services Compensation Scheme: VMware Consultant
The FSCS needed a dynamic overhaul of their current infrastructure. I was contracted in to design a virtual Server and storage solution that would encompass their current and future growth needs, whilst simplifying there Disaster Recover needs. The end design consolidated sixty three physical servers down to just twenty, provided a replicated DR site as well as a development cluster for pre-production testing by repurposing as much of the existing server hardware as possible. I started by creating the VM-SAN-DR project using Prince 2 methodology, and maintained it for 3 months until a Project Manager was assigned; this then allowed me the time to finish the design and build the solution and document all processes.

My responsibilities were to:
Create a detailed Project plan including resourcing and other costs.
Get a consolidation ratio for the site by monitoring the server and network usage.
Design a storage solution based on customer requirements and future business growth.
Design and implement a scalable VMware ESX vSphere 4 solution including Cisco Switch config, using Dell EqualLogic iscsi storage arrays, with point in time replication to the DR\'s vSphere4/EqualLogic solution using VMware\'s Site Recovery Manager (SRM).
Reuse existing server hardware to create DR and Development clusters.
Train the FSCS IT staff to a competent level for future VMware support purposes.
Document all builds and processes ready to handover full VMware control to the FSCS IT Team.


May 2006 - Jun 2009 RM Education Plc: Senior Systems Engineer
I have worked on many large high profile projects including \"Glow\" for the Scottish Government and \"Merlin\" for the South West Grid for Learning . The main projects I have been working on for the past year have been to:
Tech Lead many Learning Portal Development project using Agile Modeling methodology.
Tech lead the \"V-Options\" project, this brings Vmware\'s vSphere 4 technologies and benefits to thousands of Schools, Colleges and Academies across the UK.
Design the infrastructure to cope with demand of RM\'s Learning Platform development. Implementing VMware ESX 3.5 server Update 2, Virtual Centre 2.5 utilizing 802.3Q trunk port technology.
Built a 28 host cluster with VMOTION, DRS, HA and VCB Dell server hardware and a Dell Equalogic iscsi SAN solution with Qlogic HBA\'s connecting to a Cisco 3750E switch stack.
Supported Live Data Centre environments that run on EMC Clariion Fiber Channel SAN\'s with Cisco switches and firewalls.

Dec 2005 - May 2006 Unisys: Network Systems Engineer
I was Part of a team of network engineers/project managers which look after the network infrastructure for The Department for Constitutional Affaires (The DCA), as part of The Aramis Project. The Aramis Project involves Unisys, Fujitsu and EDS to look after the IT infrastructure for Government Departments in the public sector: Duties I performed in this role:
To organize the upgrade of hardware/software on 2800 desktops and laptops across 5 sites.
To install and upgrade software and find out how it will affect the other network users
To migrate 350 users from NT.4 to AD 2003, move them or to a different building.
Implement a secure wireless network infrastructure to some of central London\'s courtrooms and offices.

May 2005 Nov 2005 Microsoft: Windows 2k/2K3 Server Support Engineer
I was part of The Microsoft Product Support Team, offering one on one telephone support to some of Microsoft\'s Premier Customers. My role was to:
Provide 24/48 hour response or Business Critical support for Windows 2K/2K3 Server, Small Business Server, Cluster, WSS v2, SPS, IIS 5/6, and Terminal server 2K/2K3.
Deal with Active directory problems, Active Directory disaster recovery scenarios, GPO issues, DNS, Active Directory Replication, forest/domain configuration problems.
Help with Exchange 2K/2K3 server and SQL set up/recovery problems and also user implemented network issues.
A lot of time was spent dealing with Active Directory migration problems from NT4/2000 upgrades to 2003. I worked in a team of engineers offering 3rd/4th line support to Europe, Middle East and Africa, dealing with customers that have small networks up to large Global Enterprise environments.